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📸 Credit: Paola Corona
More than 160 people showed up for the first Pickleball Smash in North Aurora in March, and the grassroots fundraiser delivered on just about every front: packed courts, live blues, and $2,000 raised for two local causes.
The March 13 event at Pickleball Kingdom brought together players from all ages and backgrounds across 13,000 square feet of court space at the local facility. Organizers Brad Esposito and his fiancée Laura pulled it off with backing from Pickleball Kingdom North Aurora GM Jonny "Storm" Bradford and a handful of local small business sponsors.
📸 Credit: Paola Corona
Here's what to know:
Raising funds: The $2,000 raised will be split between the Fox Valley Walk to End Alzheimer's (coming up in September) and the Kane Senior Council Meals on Wheels program.
The crowd: More than 70 of the attendees were over 60, and nearly half of all players were first-timers who got their footing through on-site Pickleball 101 instruction. The Harry Garner Blues Band provided the musical entertainment throughout the event.
An all-inclusive experience: It's not easy to pull a crowd that spans infants to octogenarians in one room. But Pickleball Smash did it, and organizers say that mix was exactly what they were going for.
What's next: Esposito says smaller events are already in the works as they build momentum toward another full-scale event.
Esposito’s mission was to support local seniors, but also to bring people together in the community. Pickleball accomplished both.
"As a volunteer for both organizations, it was awesome to see so many friends, family, business colleagues, community members, and the pickleball community come out and be a part of our night,” he said.
According to Esposito, several local organizations and small business sponsors helped make the event a reality.
Additional support came from health and wellness partners including Total Body Health, Avatar Aesthetics, Totum Health, Strongoo, Well Thinking, and Sugar Shift Solutions, alongside financial sponsors Lakeshore Financial, Fairway Mortgage, and Health Markets. A variety of senior care organizations — including the Illinois Continuity of Care Association and the Kane Senior Council — helped fill the room, drawing attendees from as far as Seattle and Minnesota.
See a photo gallery from the event.
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